Apparatus for making stereoscopic positives from negatives



May 18, 1937. DRAPER 2,080,604

APPARATUS FOR MAKING STEREOSCOPIC POSITIVES FROM NEGATIVES OriginalFiled April 24, 1931 3 SheetsSheet 1 May 18, 1937. E. E. DRAPERAPPARATUS FOR MAKING STEREOSCOPIC POSITIVES FROM NEGATIVES OriginalFiled April 24, 1931 T5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR- W BY Patented May 18,1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR MAKING STEREOSCOPICPOSITIVES FROM NEGATIVES Ernest E. Draper, Scarsdale, N. Y., assignor toThe Perser Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York 20Claims.

This application is a division of my application Serial No. 532,522filed April 24, 1931 for apparatus for making stereoscopic positivesfrom tographed, a screen consisting of alternate opaque and transparentlines being interposed between the plate and the object, provision beingmade to shift the position of the line screen in relation to the plateas the camera travels throughout the arc. The picture thus made may beviewed through a viewing line screen, in order to obtain a truestereoscopic picture. This method of taking the pictures is highlysatisfactory for still life or even when regular models are used assubjects. But it requires a number of seconds for the camera to traverseits full arc, and for a person to remain still for such a long periodproduces a strained and unnatural expression so that suitable portraitscannot be produced. Moreover, children and animals, which cannot be heldstill for such a period of time, cannot be satisfactorily taken nor canout of door pictures be successfully taken by such a method for there isa certain amount of continuous motion going on, such as trees in thewind, etc., resulting in a, blurred negative.

My invention has for its principal object to produce a method andapparatus for making Depthographs which requires an exposure underproper conditions of only a fraction of a second, thereby makingpossible the use of the process for portraiture, for children; out ofdoor pictures, or animals, etc, without the slightest danger of blurringor producing unnatural expression on the part of the subject. For thepurposes of illustrating apparatus for carrying out my process I havefurnished the accompanying drawings which are hereunto annexed and are apart of this specification in which- Fig. l is a plan view of myapparatus as a whole.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the same apparatus.

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation on line 3--3 of Fg. 2.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on line I of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the plate-moving means inhorizontal section.

Fig, 6 is an enlarged elevation of the registerin; disc.

Figs. 7 and 8 show in elevation and in plan respectively, another formof my device, in which a single lens is employed.

As shown in the drawings, a battery of cameras to I6, capable of beingused as projectors, are mounted upon a base ll, the cameras beingpreferably arranged in an arc of a circle as is shown. The base H hastwo arms l8 and I!) which are connected by a cross frame-like member 20.Mounted on pivots 2| and 22 in the cross member 20 is a plate holder 2|,which is fixedly attached to a bar 23 and swings with it. The bar 23extends beneath the cameras and has an upwardly extending portion 24 anda horizontal portion 25 which terminates in a handle 21 for convenientmanual operation.- The horizontal portion carries a light box 28 whichis equipped with an electric bulb 29 connected by electric conductors 30to a suitable source of electric current supply (not shown). The plateholder 2| has a sensitized plate 3| and a lined screen 32 comprisingalternately opaque and transparent, vertical lines. The plate 3| ismovable with relation to the line screen or vice versa, its movementbeing produced by a screw 33 mounted in one side of the frame-likemember 2|. The screw 33 carries a graduated disc 35, the face ofwhichhas a number of lines corresponding to the number of projectingcameras. The pointer 34 is secured to the side of plate-holder 2|adjacent to the disc 35.

After the photographic plates have been exposed in the cameras anddeveloped to form negatives they are returned to their original positions in the cameras and the bar 23 is swun to register with number andan image of the negative is projected onto the sensitized plate 3|.After negative No. 1 has been projected the screw 33 is rotated untilthe disc 35 moves one division, which shows that the exposed portion ofthe plate 3| is covered by the lined screen 32, and a new portion isopened for exposure. This process is repeated for each camera untilimages from all the negatives have been printed on the one plate 3|.Between the exposures the movement of the plate preferably is so relatedto the width of the transparent vertical line and to the number of theindividual exposures to be used that each resultant band of picturestrips very nearly equals in width the combined width of one opaquevertical line and one transparent one. As the light box 28 is swung intoposition to register with the successive lenses the plate holder 2| willswing with it, thus insuring the sensitized plate 3| always beingparallel to the particular negative which is being projected on to it.This contributes to the securing of correct distribution of the imageson the plate.

It will be understood that the term negative, as used herein, is arelative term, the transparencies inserted in the projection camerasbeing negative with respect to the images formed on the sensitive plate3|, and vice versa, and that the negatives inserted in the projectioncameras need not necessarily be negative with respect to the originalsubject matter. it is desired to make the composite picture on plate 3inegative with respect to the original subject matter, the negativeinserted in the projection camera could be made positive with respect tothe original subject matter, thereby accomplishing the result, or theycould be made negative with respect to the original subject matter, andthe resulting composite picture on plate 3i could then be reversed togive the desired result. It will also be understood that the lineatingscreen for exposing separate lineated areas of the sensitive surface 3ito the separate projected negatives need not necessarily be a linedscreen composed of alternate opaque and transparent areas, as shown at32 in the drawings, but may be any other similar screen for exposingonly a lineated area to an impinging beam of light, such as a screen ofparallel cylindrical lens elements, etc. Likewise it is obvious that inFigure 1 each projection camera could be provided with a lamp, insteadof using a single lamp as shown, and these lamps could be successivelylighted as the plate holder 2! is rotated to face each projector.

In Figs. '7 and 8 I show a modified form of my device. It differs fromthe device of Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive in employing a single movable lens68 to perform successively the function of each of the lenses of thecameras I to iii of Fig. 1, and in employing means of changingvertically and horizontally the position of the plate holder 5!. Eitherof these modifications might be applied separately to the device ofFigs. 1-6.

The plate holder Si is mounted on a carriage 52 slidable in verticalguides formed in a plate 53, it being moved by means of a vertical screw54 operated by a handle 55. The carriage 52 has outwardly projectingarms 56 and 51 in which is mounted a horizontal screw 58 rotatable bymeans of a handle 59. This screw operates to shift the plate holder 5|horizontally across the face of the vertical slide 53. I provide a base60 which extends to the lensless cameras or negative holders i-lli, andis provided with two upwardly extending lugs 6i and 62. Ascrew isrotatably mounted in the lug 6! but incapable of longitudinal movement.The screw 53 is threaded inthe lug 62 so that the rotation of the screwby means of the knob 64 will operate toshift the lug 62 toward or awayfrom the cameras. The base 60 has an upwardly extending portion 65through which the screw 63 passes and a horizontal portion 66 on whichis mounted a light-box 61 in which is mounted an electric lamp bulb 68which is connected in any suitable manner to a. source of electriccurrent (not shown).

The lenses are omitted from the cameras I to IE and a single lens 69 ismounted in a carrier 70 which extends upward from the lug 62.

With this device lenses of different focal length may be usedinterchangeably at 69 in order to project more or less of the negative,and the Thus iflens used can be focused by turning the knob 64.

By shifting the plate holder vertically or horizontally by means of thedevices described, the plate may be made to receive images from any partof the negatives.

It is obvious that certain features of the apparatus of Figs. 1-6 may becombined with features of the apparatus of Figs. 7 and 8, and thatvarious features of the embodiments herein described may be altered oromitted without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention asdefined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In an apparatus of the class described, a projecting cameracomprising a plurality of cameras adapted to hold a negative in eachcamera, said cameras being arranged in an arc of a circle, a lightsource, means to register said light source back of the lens of eachcamera, a sensitized plate, a line screen in front of said plate, meansactuated by the shifting of the light source to maintain said plateparallel to said negative, and means to shift said plate with relationto said line screen.

2. The combination with a plurality of projecting cameras arranged in anarc of a circle, each of said projecting cameras being adapted toreceive a negative, of a light source, means to register said lightsource back of each negative, means to hold said light source in such 1position, a pivoted pla'te holder, a sensitized plate therein, a linescreen in front of said plate, means which shift said plate holder whensaid light source is shifted, and means to alter the relation of saidplate and said line screen.

3. The combination with a plurality of projecting cameras each adaptedto receive a negative, of a light source, means to locate said lightsource back of each negative, a sensitized plate, a lineating screen infront of said plate, means which shift said plate holder when said lightsource is shifted, and means to alter the relation of saidplate and saidlineating screen to each other.

4. The combination with a multiplicity of projectors positioned inadjacent spaced relationship and adapted to project upon a photographicplate images of a multiplicity of negatives which represent an objectfield as seen from diiferent points of view of a lineating screeninterposed between said photographic plate and said projectors, means ofaltering the positions of saidphotographic plate and said lineatingscreen relative to each other, and means for so locating the negativesin the projectors that the projected images of a particular part of thescene are made .to coincide.

5. The combination with a multiplicity of projectors positioned inadjacent spaced relationship and adapted to project upon a photographicplate the image of each of a plurality of negatives which represent anobject field as seen from different points of view, of a lineating'screen interposed between said photographic plate and said projectorsand means of altering the positions of said photographic plate and saidlineating screen relative to each other.

6. The combination with a multiplicity of projectors adapted to projectupon a photographic plate the image of each of a plurality of negatives,of means to maintain said photographic plate successively essentiallyperpendicular to the axis of projection from each projector, a lineatingscreen interposed between said photographic plate and said projectors,and means of altering the positions of said photographic plate and saidlineating screen relative to each other.

7. The combination with a multiplicity of projectors adapted to projectupon'a photographic plate the image of each of a plurality of negatives,of a light source, means to locate said light source back of each ofsaid projectors successively, means to cause the shifting of said lightsource to maintain said photographic plate essentially parallel to thecorresponding negative, a lineating screen interposed between saidphotographic plate and said projectors, and

means of altering the positions of said photographic plate and saidlineating screen relative to each other. i

8. The combination with a series of negatives each produced in one ofa-plurality of cameras arranged to obtain images of a single scene fromdifferent points of view, of a light'source, means to locate said lightsource back of each of said negatives successively, a lens, aphotographic plate, means to locate said lens between said photographicplate and each of said negatives successively in correspondence with thelocation of said light source, a lineating screen interposed betweensaid photographic plateand said lens, and means of altering thepositions of said'photographic plate and said lineating screen relativeto each other. a

9. The combination with aseries of negatives each produced in one of a,plurality of cameras arranged to obtain images of a single scene fromdifferent points of view, of a photographic plate, a bar extending fromsaid photographic plate to said negatives, a light source carried onsaid bar and adapted to illuminate each of said negatives successively,a lens carried on said bar and adapted to be adjustably located betweensaid photographic plate and the illuminated negative, a lineating screeninterposed between said photographic plate and said lens, and means ofaltering the positions of said photographic plate and said lineatingscreen relative to each other.

10. man apparatus of the class described, a

multiplicity of cameras positioned in adjacent,

holders, of a light source, means to locate said light source back ofeach of said negative holders one at a time, a lens, a photographicplate,

means to locate said lens between said photo graphic plate and each ofsaid negative holders one at a time, in correspondence with the locationof said light source, a lineating screen interposed between saidphotographic plate and said lens, and means of altering the positions ofsaid photographic plateand saidlineating screen relative. to each other.h

12. Apparatus for making a composite interiineated image from aplurality of negatives comprising a plurality of projecting camerasarranged side by side in adjacent spaced relationship, each camera beingadapted to receive a prising a plurality of projecting cameras arrangedin adjacent spaced relationship to obtain images of a single scene fromdifferent points of view, said projecting cameras being adapted toreceive in their original positions developed transparencies of theimages taken therein, a. photographic sensitive surface, means tosuccessively project each negative onto said sensitive surface, thesensitive surface being in substantially the same relative position withrespect to, each transparency as that transparency is'projected, alineating screen positioned between the's'ensitive surface and theprojecting I camera, and means for moving the lineating screen and thesensitive surface relative to each other.

14. Apparatus for making a composite interlineated image from aplurality of negatives which represent the recorded object field as seenfrom a corresponding number of different points of view comprising aplurality of projectors arranged side by side in adjacent spacedrelationship, the projectors being adapmd to receive the negatives inpositions corresponding to those in i which the negatives wereoriginally exposed, means for successively projecting the said negativesonto a photographically sensitive surface,

a lineating screen placed'between the said sensitive surface and theprojectors, and means for moving the lineating screen and sensitivesurface relative to each other to expose slightly different lineatingareas of the sensitive surface to different projected negatives. 15.Apparatus for making a composite interlineated image from a plurality ofnegatives which represent the recorded object field as seen from acorresponding number of different points of view comprising a pluralityof projectors arranged side by side in adjacent spaced relationship, theprojectors being adapted to receive the negatives in positionscorresponding to those in which the negatives were originally exposed,means for successively projecting the said negatives onto aphotographically sensitive surface,

a-lineating screen placed between the sensitive surface and theprojectors, means for moving the lineating screen and sensitive surfacerelative to each other to expose slightly different lineated areas ofthe sensitive surface to different projected negatives, and means forchanging the relative positions of the projectors and the sensitivesurface so as to maintain substantially the same angular relationshipbetween each negative and the sensitive surface when that negative isprojected.

16. Apparatus for making a composite interlineated image from aplurality of negatives comprising a supporting base, a photographicallysensitive surface mounted on said base, a plurality of projectorspositioned in adjacent fixed relationship and containing said negatives,said projectors being movably mounted on said base, means tosuccessively move each projector into the same relative position withrespect to said lineated image from a plurality of negativescomsensitive surface, means to project the negative in each projectoronto the sensitive surface when the projector is in the said position,and lineating means in the path of the projected rays movable withrespect to the sensitive surface to expose separate iineated areas ofthe sensitive surface to the successively projected negatives.

17. Apparatus for making a composite interlineated image from aplurality of negatives comprising a supporting base, a holder containinga photographically sensitive surface mounted on said base, a carrieradapted to hold said negatives in adjacent fixed relationship, saidcarrier being movably mounted on said base, a projecting lens mounted onsaid base between said carrier and said photographically sensitivesurface, means for moving said carrier so as to place the said negativessuccessively in the same cooperative relationship with said projectinglens and said sensitive surface, whereby each negative may be projectedonto the sensitive surface in substantially the same position, and alineating screen positioned in the path of the projected rays movablewith respect to the sensitive surface to expose different lineated areasof the sensitive surface to the successive projected negatives.

18. Apparatus for making a composite interlineated image from aplurality of negatives which represent the recorded object field as seenfrom a corresponding number of different points of view comprising asupporting base, a holder containing a photographically sensitivesurface mounted on said base, a carrier adapted to receive and hold thesaid negatives in positions corresponding to those in which thenegatives were originally exposed, said carrier being mounted on saidbase, a projecting lens mounted on said base between said carrier andsaid pho- 0 tographically sensitive surface, means for moving saidcarrier so as to place the said negatives successively in the samecooperative relationship with said projecting lens and said sensitivesurface, whereby each negative may be projected onto the sensitivesurface in substantially the same position, and a lineating screenpositioned in the pathof the projected rays movable with respect to thesensitive surface to expose different lineated areas of the sensitivesurface to the successive projected negatives.

19. Apparatus for making a composite interlineated image from aplurality of discrete negatives taken from slightly different viewpointscomprising means for holding said negatives side by side in fixedrelationship to each other and in substantially the same relativeposition in which they were taken, means for successively projectingsaid negatives onto the same photographically sensitive surface, meansfor maintaining the relative position of. the sensitive surface and thenegative to be projected substantially the same for each negative whenthe negatives are in position to be projected onto the photographicallysensitive surface, a lineating screen placed between the sensitivesurface and the negative in position to be projected, and means formoving said lineating screen and sensitive surface relatively to eachother between each successive exposure.

20. Apparatus for making a composite interlineated image from aplurality of negatives comprising a plurality of projecting camerasarranged side by side in adjacent spaced relationship, each camera beingadapted to receive a negative, at photographically sensitive surface,means to successively project each negative onto said sensitivesiu'face, the sensitive surface being substantially parallel to eachnegative when the negatives are in position to be projected onto thephotographically sensitive surface, a lineating screen positionedbetween the sensitive surface and the projecting camera, and means formoving the lineating screen and the sensitive surface relative to eachother.

ERNEST E. DRAPER.

